The gentle rhythm of the waves slowly awakened a young man lying on the edge of the beach. Cool, soft sand brushed against his cheek, while the sea breeze carried a distinct salty aroma. With his eyes half-closed, he began to regain consciousness—a blend of confusion and exhaustion washed over him.
Slowly, he sat up, rubbing his throbbing temples. A sharp pain pierced through his head, as if his memories had been blurred into obscurity.
"Where... am I?" he murmured, his voice hoarse, like someone recovering from a long, dark dream.
His eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the expanse of the empty beach. There was nothing but white sand, swaying coconut trees in the distance, and an endless ocean. No signs of life, no sounds except for the waves crashing on the shore.
Still disoriented and without a clue, the man stood up, feeling the unfamiliar ground beneath his feet. But something even stranger loomed within him—he didn't know who he was. Not his name, his age, nor the reason he was on this island.
"Who... am I?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible against the wind.
Instinctively, he decided to walk, tracing the shoreline and exploring every inch of the quiet little island. The sky gradually turned amber, signaling the arrival of evening, yet he found no one. He climbed small hills, pushed through thick bushes, and investigated every corner he could reach. Still, there were no answers, no clues, no one else.
Fatigue began to set in. He stopped, gasping for air, and stared hopelessly at the vast ocean.
"Why... why am I in this godforsaken place?!"
His anguished cry was met only by the crashing of the waves. He wanted to curse whoever might have left him here, whoever had stranded him in this void without memories or direction.
But then, in the stillness of the twilight, a strange voice echoed in his mind. It was mechanical, cold, and unnervingly surreal.
[Installation complete...]
He flinched, his eyes widening as his body stiffened.
"Who... who's there?!" His voice cracked with fear. He looked around, but there was nothing. Only sand, sea, and the reddish sky. No people, no devices, nothing that could have produced the voice.
[The Modern Generation System has been successfully installed in the Host's body. Initial protocol is commencing...]
The voice sounded like a system processing data. The man froze, terrified and confused.
"Hey! I asked, who are you?!" His voice grew louder, trying to suppress the growing fear in his chest.
The voice returned, calmer and more formal this time.
[Greetings, Arcana Cero… I am an assistant from the Modern Generation System. Ready to assist you. Ask anything you wish to know.]
He paused for a moment. That name... *Arcana Cero* rolled off his tongue as if it were a puzzle handed to him without explanation. Was that his name? Was he *Arcana Cero*? Slowly, more questions began to flood his mind.
"Alright," he said, his tone half-defiant yet tinged with hope. "If you know so much, tell me who I really am, why I'm here, and... what this System is all about."
There was a brief pause, as though the voice was processing his questions.
[Your identity is registered as Arcana Cero. The Modern Generation System is an entity integrated into your body and mind, designed to provide information, tactical support, and guidance in this world. Your presence here is due to—access restricted. This information is currently unavailable to the user.]
"'Access restricted'? What does that even mean?" he asked irritably, though a tinge of curiosity started to creep in. This System wasn't just bizarre; it seemed to hold secrets far greater than he could grasp.
[Your immediate priority is to survive and gather basic information about the surrounding area. The System will assist in identifying resources, enhancing skills, and providing strategies for emergencies. Please follow the instructions provided.]
Arcana felt as though he had been thrust into a game, though he couldn't fully comprehend how or why. One thing, however, was certain: he needed to survive, and this System seemed to be the only help he had.
"Okay, System… tell me, what's the first step I need to take?"
[First step: Locate a water source and secure a safe shelter for the night. Local radar activated. Freshwater source detected to the west, approximately 500 meters from your current position.]
Arcana nodded. A slight sense of relief washed over him at having a direction to follow, though he vaguely understood that this was only the beginning of a much longer journey. Taking a deep breath, he started walking westward, following the System's guidance—his sole companion on this desolate island.
As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, Arcana trudged through the darkening forest. His steps were firm but cautious, his heart filled with a mix of curiosity, fear, and faint hope.
Under the vast night sky that began to engulf him, he wondered what truly awaited him on this mysterious island and what role this enigmatic "Modern Generation" entity would play in his uncertain fate.